Many people, when faced with difficult challenges, take the easy way out. It makes sense, why cause yourself trouble and stress when you don’t have to? But, that’s no way to live your life. Simran Jeet Singh used his own experiences in “The Light We Give,” as a Sikh man, to raise attention to how he was treated as an American, turban-wearing, dark-skinned man. He explains in his book how racism impacted his life and he wasn’t going to let it affect him negatively. He describes how his belief systems helped him see the world through a different perspective, one that transformed his life. Singh found a way to forgive the cruelest of men through love instead of hate, and never gave up his identity/religion even though, as he said, it would have been …show more content…
No one is born with these thoughts. This is what is taught. This is pure hatred, he said. But, for Singh, he saw a lesson. He couldn’t see himself blaming Roque. That wouldn’t change Roque’s hatred or bring back Sodhi. Singh saw this as a way to teach the world that his existence mattered. He said, “This is how and why I committed myself to addressing this long-standing problem for marginalized people: to claim and express our existence in a way that truly brought forth our humanity,” (58). He wanted to find a way to protect his family and loved ones and see past the racist ways of this man. He used Sodhi’s death as a way for the world to see how Sikhs were fighting for survival. To not give up, no matter how difficult the road gets. Singh explains in her memoir how he doubted his faith. Many people asked him why he believed in Sikhism as there was no afterlife in this religion. Many judged and asked, “Why do you follow a religion that doesn’t explain what happens in the afterlife? Sounds like a fake religion.” I am not religious, but to hear someone say something so mean about a faith you practice is crushing and downright